Grumman G-164A accident near Swifton, Arkansas, July 15, 1991
On July 15, 1991 at about 10:04 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6615, was destroyed in an accident near Swifton, Arkansas (Unknown airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE HOPPER, CHEMICAL FIRE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR. A FACTOR WS THE LOSS OF VISUAL OUTSIDE REFERENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1991 · about 10:04 pm local time
- Place
- Swifton, Arkansas · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6615 · no longer on the register · serial 749
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING DAY AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS, THE PILOT LOST OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCES DUE TO DENSE SMOKE COMING FROM THE CHEMICAL HOPPER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING ON THE ADJACENT RUNWAY. DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SET OF ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES. FOLLOWING THE LANDING THE HOPPER ERUPTED INTO FIRE, SO THE PILOT ABRUPTLY PULLED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ABRUPT GROUND MANEUVER, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF. FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF THE LANDING GEAR, THE FUEL CELL RUPTURED AND IGNITED, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE BEING CONSUMED BY FIRE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1991; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AM1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.